| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:10 - Jan 29 with 4540 views | BlueBadger |
I bet he's not even tried working more hours, cancelling Netflix or buying fewer avocados. |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:24 - Jan 29 with 4473 views | NthQldITFC |
I haven't read the whole thing because T*ries make me want to puke, but I don't quite understand the paragraph...
'Mr Freeman, who resigned amid Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle, added: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."'
Surely it's not 'doing politics' that's too expensive for him, it's buying a bigger house than his £120K salary can (supposedly) support. All other things aside, there's no logic in what he says. Good job he never made Chancellor or Education. |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:30 - Jan 29 with 4416 views | MattinLondon |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:24 - Jan 29 by NthQldITFC |
I haven't read the whole thing because T*ries make me want to puke, but I don't quite understand the paragraph...
'Mr Freeman, who resigned amid Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle, added: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."'
Surely it's not 'doing politics' that's too expensive for him, it's buying a bigger house than his £120K salary can (supposedly) support. All other things aside, there's no logic in what he says. Good job he never made Chancellor or Education. |
He’s also married to a Theatre Director who, not on a huge amount of money, probably still isn’t near minimum wage. Assuming that they live together, maybe they should seek budgeting advice from 30p Lee. |  | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:31 - Jan 29 with 4416 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:24 - Jan 29 by NthQldITFC |
I haven't read the whole thing because T*ries make me want to puke, but I don't quite understand the paragraph...
'Mr Freeman, who resigned amid Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle, added: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."'
Surely it's not 'doing politics' that's too expensive for him, it's buying a bigger house than his £120K salary can (supposedly) support. All other things aside, there's no logic in what he says. Good job he never made Chancellor or Education. |
It's like they think anyone in any industry that doesn't offer salaries well in excess of £100K are not qualified to represent the interests of voters. Perhaps attracting fewer well paid career politicians, financial marketeers and the likes and attracting people with an interest in representing ordinary voters would be a good thing for the country! |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:37 - Jan 29 with 4379 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:24 - Jan 29 by NthQldITFC |
I haven't read the whole thing because T*ries make me want to puke, but I don't quite understand the paragraph...
'Mr Freeman, who resigned amid Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle, added: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."'
Surely it's not 'doing politics' that's too expensive for him, it's buying a bigger house than his £120K salary can (supposedly) support. All other things aside, there's no logic in what he says. Good job he never made Chancellor or Education. |
The heart of this story is that he had an expensive divorce. If his children are still of school age then he may be paying two mortgages. And possibly school fees, if that is one of his life choices. Not one that I would make, but Tories gonna Tory.
He is still one of the c***s who voted for every austerity measure, and in doing so expressly demonstrated that he believes that others should manage on a lot less than this, but he might not have quite the disposable income that could be expected from that salary. |  | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:40 - Jan 29 with 4352 views | DanTheMan |
I'm not quite sure how out of take-home pay of roughly £6,000, he can't afford to spend 30% on housing. Dread to think what other outgoings he has, I'm going to guess some private school stuff.
If anyone wants to read the full blog post, link is here:
https://georgefreemanmp.substack.com/p/why-we-need-a-cross-party-consensus?r=6is
One interesting thing is that he's now calling for a, and I quote, "non-partisan cross/party long term policy framework".
This isn't a bad idea at all, I'd support it, just weird he's bringing this up now right as the Conservatives might be losing their power. Funny eh? |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:49 - Jan 29 with 4300 views | NthQldITFC |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:40 - Jan 29 by DanTheMan |
I'm not quite sure how out of take-home pay of roughly £6,000, he can't afford to spend 30% on housing. Dread to think what other outgoings he has, I'm going to guess some private school stuff.
If anyone wants to read the full blog post, link is here:
https://georgefreemanmp.substack.com/p/why-we-need-a-cross-party-consensus?r=6is
One interesting thing is that he's now calling for a, and I quote, "non-partisan cross/party long term policy framework".
This isn't a bad idea at all, I'd support it, just weird he's bringing this up now right as the Conservatives might be losing their power. Funny eh? |
If he sticks with it, despite the poor soul's financial difficulties, and manages to bring into existence a genuine, effective "non-partisan cross/party long term policy framework" to save the country from the sh!thole him and his ilk are sending it down, I'll happily pay his mortgage for him - and nothing else! [Post edited 29 Jan 2024 22:38]
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 21:48 - Jan 29 with 4141 views | factual_blue |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:24 - Jan 29 by NthQldITFC |
I haven't read the whole thing because T*ries make me want to puke, but I don't quite understand the paragraph...
'Mr Freeman, who resigned amid Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle, added: "We're in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do."'
Surely it's not 'doing politics' that's too expensive for him, it's buying a bigger house than his £120K salary can (supposedly) support. All other things aside, there's no logic in what he says. Good job he never made Chancellor or Education. |
He'll do what tories urge other people with insufficient income (cleaners, hospitality workers, hospital workers etc) to do: get a second job as a lobbyist. |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 22:04 - Jan 29 with 4031 views | ElderGrizzly |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 21:48 - Jan 29 by factual_blue |
He'll do what tories urge other people with insufficient income (cleaners, hospitality workers, hospital workers etc) to do: get a second job as a lobbyist. |
Literally why he left his Ministerial role of course. Can’t have a second job as a minister but can make much more than the £35k uplift you get for being one by taking second/third/fourth jobs.
He’ll of course need a few more jobs when he is no longer an MP in November |  | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 22:41 - Jan 29 with 3952 views | Zx1988 |
Hold on...
Can't afford his £2,000 a month mortgage, but is claiming £1,400 per month from the taxpayer for 'constituency cottage rent'?
Scum. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 07:40 - Jan 30 with 3713 views | DJR |
Whilst he was expelled from the Labour Party for being a member of Militant, I always thought Dave Nellist deserved credit for forgoing 54% of his MP's salary.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23289962
And this is what Michael White of the Guardian wrote about him in connection with his award in 1991 by The Spectator of Backbencher of the Year.
Over the years the award speech I most cherish was made by David Nellist, the Militant Tendancy Labour MP who lost his Coventry seat after refusing to renounce Militant in the belated 80s purges which eventually put Tony Blair into power.
Everyone admired Mr Nellist who was fearless and passionate, a backbencher of little importance who refused to cower before Margaret Thatcher in her prime. Would he accept the award, we wondered? Backbencher of the year, I think it was.
Nellist did better than accept it, let alone with bad grace as Short later did. He researched the trade union history of the Savoy Hotel where the Spec awards lunch was then held and gave his captive audience a brief lecture on the struggle of the workers employed there.
It was witty and highly political, done with style and without compromise. They cheered him fervently and then returned to their brandy. But it was one of the best speeches I have ever heard. [Post edited 30 Jan 2024 12:48]
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 12:13 - Jan 31 with 3379 views | jayessess |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 07:40 - Jan 30 by DJR |
Whilst he was expelled from the Labour Party for being a member of Militant, I always thought Dave Nellist deserved credit for forgoing 54% of his MP's salary.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-23289962
And this is what Michael White of the Guardian wrote about him in connection with his award in 1991 by The Spectator of Backbencher of the Year.
Over the years the award speech I most cherish was made by David Nellist, the Militant Tendancy Labour MP who lost his Coventry seat after refusing to renounce Militant in the belated 80s purges which eventually put Tony Blair into power.
Everyone admired Mr Nellist who was fearless and passionate, a backbencher of little importance who refused to cower before Margaret Thatcher in her prime. Would he accept the award, we wondered? Backbencher of the year, I think it was.
Nellist did better than accept it, let alone with bad grace as Short later did. He researched the trade union history of the Savoy Hotel where the Spec awards lunch was then held and gave his captive audience a brief lecture on the struggle of the workers employed there.
It was witty and highly political, done with style and without compromise. They cheered him fervently and then returned to their brandy. But it was one of the best speeches I have ever heard. [Post edited 30 Jan 2024 12:48]
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Of the current batch, Nadia Whittome does the same thing taking the average salary (possibly for the same reason, only taking the average wage for elected positions in parliamentary or trade union work is the official policy of the Trotskyist group she may or may not be close to, the Alliance for Workers Liberty). |  |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 12:16 - Jan 31 with 3347 views | DarkBrandon |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 22:41 - Jan 29 by Zx1988 |
Hold on...
Can't afford his £2,000 a month mortgage, but is claiming £1,400 per month from the taxpayer for 'constituency cottage rent'?
Scum. |
It is perfectly reasonable for constituency expenses to be paid by the taxpayer.
He will have an office and staff. Their salaries (ludicrously) are listed as “expense” in the system |  | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 15:50 - Jan 31 with 3084 views | jayessess |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 12:16 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
It is perfectly reasonable for constituency expenses to be paid by the taxpayer.
He will have an office and staff. Their salaries (ludicrously) are listed as “expense” in the system |
The state paying for one of his two homes isn't a "constituency expense", it's a perk, isn't it?
Lots of Britons work in two places or have to commute, the vast vast majority aren't getting help to manage their accommodation expenses. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:05 - Jan 31 with 3037 views | DJR |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 12:16 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
It is perfectly reasonable for constituency expenses to be paid by the taxpayer.
He will have an office and staff. Their salaries (ludicrously) are listed as “expense” in the system |
And they've tightened up the system more generally, given the expenses system was once seen as a way of overcoming limits on the increase in MPs' pay. [Post edited 1 Feb 2024 7:32]
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:18 - Jan 31 with 2981 views | DarkBrandon |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 15:50 - Jan 31 by jayessess |
The state paying for one of his two homes isn't a "constituency expense", it's a perk, isn't it?
Lots of Britons work in two places or have to commute, the vast vast majority aren't getting help to manage their accommodation expenses. |
Of course it isn’t a perk.
I live near Cambridge. If I stood for election locally and won, I’d live in my house, but require some accommodation in London for those nights I didn’t want to come back late. I’d expect the taxpayer to pickup that, in the same way I’d expect my employer to pay when I’m away on business.
You may not like it, but that is how every company employing professional people works. You don’t get paid to commute to work, but you get paid for expenses you pickup when you travel for work. And travelling between Westminster and your constituency is a good example of that.
What other Britons work in two places and don’t get expenses in some way? | | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:42 - Jan 31 with 2934 views | Zx1988 |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:18 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
Of course it isn’t a perk.
I live near Cambridge. If I stood for election locally and won, I’d live in my house, but require some accommodation in London for those nights I didn’t want to come back late. I’d expect the taxpayer to pickup that, in the same way I’d expect my employer to pay when I’m away on business.
You may not like it, but that is how every company employing professional people works. You don’t get paid to commute to work, but you get paid for expenses you pickup when you travel for work. And travelling between Westminster and your constituency is a good example of that.
What other Britons work in two places and don’t get expenses in some way? |
Would you expect your employer to pick up the tab on a second mortgage, or exclusive occupancy of a second property though?
No, you'd get expensed into a mid-range hotel and bloody well like it. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 17:37 - Jan 31 with 2853 views | jayessess |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:18 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
Of course it isn’t a perk.
I live near Cambridge. If I stood for election locally and won, I’d live in my house, but require some accommodation in London for those nights I didn’t want to come back late. I’d expect the taxpayer to pickup that, in the same way I’d expect my employer to pay when I’m away on business.
You may not like it, but that is how every company employing professional people works. You don’t get paid to commute to work, but you get paid for expenses you pickup when you travel for work. And travelling between Westminster and your constituency is a good example of that.
What other Britons work in two places and don’t get expenses in some way? |
The MP for Cambridge has (effectively) got a job in London which occasionally requires him to be present for (usually daytime) meetings and events in Cambridge, a place that is approximately 90 minutes away on public transport or a two-hour drive.
What jobs are there where an employer would pay for you to have a second home in either locale in those circumstances? If you moved to London, they might pay expenses for your travel to Cambridge. If you stayed in Cambridge, they wouldn't even pay for that.
Of course it's a sodding perk. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 17:42 - Jan 31 with 2825 views | DJR |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 17:37 - Jan 31 by jayessess |
The MP for Cambridge has (effectively) got a job in London which occasionally requires him to be present for (usually daytime) meetings and events in Cambridge, a place that is approximately 90 minutes away on public transport or a two-hour drive.
What jobs are there where an employer would pay for you to have a second home in either locale in those circumstances? If you moved to London, they might pay expenses for your travel to Cambridge. If you stayed in Cambridge, they wouldn't even pay for that.
Of course it's a sodding perk. |
The rules have changed, so that it is not the perk that it was once.
At one time, MPs could buy a second home at the expense of the taxpayer, but this is now the position, according to IPSA. Having said that, because the House rarely sits late, there is less justification for MPs within commuting distance of London having a rented pad in London.
"The 554 MPs for constituencies outside of London are in the unusual position of having two places of work: their constituency and London. Because of this, non-London MPs have an Accommodation budget to help to cover the cost of somewhere to stay in one of these locations.
In 2020-21 MPs can claim up to £16,120 outside of London or £23,010 in London.
The accommodation budget can cover rent and bills, or MPs can claim the cost of staying in a hotel. If an MP owns the second property, they cannot use the budget for mortgage payments or rent, but they can claim a proportion of utility costs in some circumstances." [Post edited 31 Jan 2024 17:48]
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 17:58 - Jan 31 with 2786 views | Zx1988 |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 17:42 - Jan 31 by DJR |
The rules have changed, so that it is not the perk that it was once.
At one time, MPs could buy a second home at the expense of the taxpayer, but this is now the position, according to IPSA. Having said that, because the House rarely sits late, there is less justification for MPs within commuting distance of London having a rented pad in London.
"The 554 MPs for constituencies outside of London are in the unusual position of having two places of work: their constituency and London. Because of this, non-London MPs have an Accommodation budget to help to cover the cost of somewhere to stay in one of these locations.
In 2020-21 MPs can claim up to £16,120 outside of London or £23,010 in London.
The accommodation budget can cover rent and bills, or MPs can claim the cost of staying in a hotel. If an MP owns the second property, they cannot use the budget for mortgage payments or rent, but they can claim a proportion of utility costs in some circumstances." [Post edited 31 Jan 2024 17:48]
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The problem is that MPs just re-adjust how they game the system.
Based on Freeman's expenses claims, we are expected to believe that it is perfectly normal and above-board for a Cabinet member representing Breckland, and earning a six-figure salary before expenses, not to own a property in the constituency that he represents and, instead, is forced to rent a property at £1,400 a month which, by pure coincidence, happens to be almost exactly the upper limit for rent claims outside London.
A less charitable soul than I would be forgiven for thinking that Mr Freeman might, instead, be choosing to rent out any property that he currently owns in Breckland, in order to take full advantage of £1,400pcm of taxpayer-funded accommodation. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:27 - Jan 31 with 2694 views | DarkBrandon |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 16:42 - Jan 31 by Zx1988 |
Would you expect your employer to pick up the tab on a second mortgage, or exclusive occupancy of a second property though?
No, you'd get expensed into a mid-range hotel and bloody well like it. |
If I’m going on a course for a week, yeah.
If I’m spending three or four nights a week at the same remote office for 5 years, they’d definitely sort me out with a flat. | | | |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 20:11 - Jan 31 with 2643 views | Zx1988 |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:27 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
If I’m going on a course for a week, yeah.
If I’m spending three or four nights a week at the same remote office for 5 years, they’d definitely sort me out with a flat. |
I think that you may be vastly overegging the frequency with which the House sits late, and with which a MP of a constituency less than two hours of London would have a legitimate need to stay overnight in London. | |
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| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 20:21 - Jan 31 with 2622 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| My heart absolutely bleeds... on 19:27 - Jan 31 by DarkBrandon |
If I’m going on a course for a week, yeah.
If I’m spending three or four nights a week at the same remote office for 5 years, they’d definitely sort me out with a flat. |
I wonder how many of the 152 days that the house sat in 21-22 he was in attendance and whether all of the 24 late sittings are among them. | |
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